This powerful prayer of St. Francis contains within it wisdom that can help each of us live life free of pain and suffering. It’s really a love letter to (and for) humanity. Tomorrow, February 29th, is sort of a miraculous “bonus day” in 2008. If you would like to invoke some self-love and self-healing that day, consider exemplifying one of the ideas from this prayer.

How to Use This Prayer for Health and Well-being

To use this prayer to promote health and well-being let’s use the following example:

Where there is injury, pardon.

Is there someone in your life around whom, when you think of them, you experience feelings of hurt or anger? This person may no longer even be in your life–it could be an old schoolmate or deceased family member or friend. How do your mind and body feel when you think of this person? How do your mind and body feel if you, just for a moment, choose to let go of any feelings of anger, guilt, shame, blame or fear? This may require, just for a moment, relinquishing the belief that what they did was “wrong”.

Just try letting go of that belief that what they did or said was “wrong”–just for a moment. How does that feel? Now pardon them. No matter how “wrong” you have believed their words or actions may have been, just pardon them. How do you feel?

This may take courage or a leap of faith. That’s O.K. You are love and you are unlimited. You have the capacity to heal and to be a healer. It is who you are.

Have a wonderful and miracle-filled February 29th.

with love,

Namaste,

Beth

Beth Netter, M.D. is a holistic physician practicing at The Center for Integrative Health and Healing in Delmar, N.Y.

Beth Netter

2 Responses

Confucius wrote “To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.” Thank you Beth for this wonderful reminder of the power forgiveness. Writers and sages throughout the ages have reminded us again and agin that “The quality of mercy is not strained…” and benefits both the receiver and the giver. A study published in the 2003 Journal of Behavioral Medicine noted that those with the most forgiving personality types had lower blood pressure and heart rates, and were less reactive to stress. A win/win situation I’d say!